Tuesday Stand Alone Statement: Ben Folds

So yesterday I watched “Over The Hedge” with my kids and it’s a pretty good movie, but one of the better parts of the movie is music created and performed by song-writer Ben Folds. A good mix of Joy and Sadness. And Keyboards and Low Brass. And Humor and Irony.

So I looked him up on youtube . . .

. . . and my first thought was “Why haven’t I heard of this guy before?”

My second thought was “Boy, I wish this guy wasn’t so coarse and sometimes offensive.”

I can hardly recommend him. But his music is exactly the kind I like.

So here’s my Tuesday Stand Alone Statement:

I pray that Ben Folds becomes a Christian

Yes, I know – some of you are thinking “Y’know, if he becomes a Christian, he might lose his angst and his muse and stuff and not be able to make good songs like the one you like”

Yeah, like I’m going to go with that – “Well, he might be going to Hell, but at least the world will get some great music out of the deal.”

We had a discussion in our small group a few weeks ago about whether a certain type of sound (regardless of lyrical content) can either glorify or dishonor God, and I’m still not sure of the answer. There are songs that have beautiful music but vile, disgusting lyrical content. while at the same time there are others that have not-so-beautiful music but are absolutely packed with rock-solid theology. Does a God-glorifying song need to have both?

It’s an unanswerable question. What may draw my heart into worship might make someone else want to puke. The key is if a member of the body of Christ produces something to edify the body, and it edifies one member of the body, it’s good.

I totally hear what you’re saying about a certain disconnectedness in songs.

When I first heard Chris Thile’s song Raining at Sunset it led my heart to worship the Lord, but I doubt that was his intent in writing the song, perhaps. Then there are other songs written for the edification of the body that cause me to be judgmental and critical. Perhaps I’m the one with the issues.

Jamsco, perhaps what P is referencing is a song with solid lyrics that sounds like it’s off the 80’s hits album, which could be awesome or horrendous. Or a solid song that says nothing, or one thing, but it’s sung over and over til it means nothing, or everything.

I personally think most of Bob Kaufflin’s songs fit this category, but I know most people love his stuff. Therefore, I enjoy them vicariously through the body 🙂

@ philthecarl — Your question ‘according to whom?’ is a good question.. I guess I agree that it’s unanswerable; there isn’t hard and fast rule for what type of music can draw a person into worship. Hypothetically though, if someone set the 23rd Psalm to some electro-industrial music, wouldn’t that seem kind of strange? In that case I would wonder, like you said, if I was the one with issues.

@ jamsco — An example is hard to find, but I was thinking along the lines of Christian metal. This is close, but the lyrics are probably too ambiguous to be considered “rock-solid theology”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuxmNiAISlU

I’ve been a huge Ben Folds fan for years – since before I was a Christian. I used to sit and listen to his albums over and over and try to learn his songs on piano, etc. It’s been interesting for me to see my own progression in holiness while he has remained his shocking, explitive-loving self.

Not to sound too ridiculous, but it’s kind of like watching an old friend drift away.

I remember a few years ago seeing him perform live where I went to college – halfway through the performance I realized that my days of Ben Folds being my favorite musician were over. Still like to rock out to “Philosophy” every now and then…